Base44 Alternative: The Backend Lock-In is Real
You built your app. Base44 owns the backend. Ship gives you a way out: flat-rate hosting on your own infrastructure. No credit spirals. No proprietary database. Just your code, running free.
Base44 Locks What Matters
Base44 lets you export your frontend code to GitHub. That part is honest. But the backend, database, and serverless functions? Locked to Base44's proprietary infrastructure.
Wix acquired Base44 in mid-2025 for roughly $80M. That's venture-scale infrastructure, which means they need you on their platform. Your frontend is the hook; your backend is the lock.
What's Portable vs. What's Stuck
You can export (portable):
- React frontend code to GitHub
- UI components and styling
- Some configuration
You cannot export (locked):
- Backend API logic
- Database schema and queries
- User authentication system
- Serverless functions
- Integrations tied to Base44's credit system
Migrating away means rebuilding the entire backend from scratch. That is the real cost of Base44.
What You're Actually Getting
Base44 claims portability but proprietary backend infrastructure remains. Ship hosting includes GDPR-compliant Frankfurt infrastructure.
Lovable apps spiral to this monthly when they grow.
Same credit-based lock-in as Base44. Ship's flat rate means your bill stays the same whether your app serves 100 users or 10,000.
Ship: The Base44 Alternative for Production
You already have your frontend. You already understand the pain. Ship removes the hosting part of the equation.
No More Credit Spirals
Flat monthly rate. Your bill does not change based on traffic, API calls, or function invocations. You pay once, and that is it.
Your Infrastructure, Your Terms
Host on your own Supabase instance, your own database, your own backend code. No proprietary vendor in the middle. Portable. Auditable. Yours.
EU-First, GDPR-Compliant By Default
Frankfurt data center. Automatic backups. No surprise data residency questions. Compliance is built in, not bolted on.
Built for teams who need reliability
From Base44 to Ship: The Path
Four steps to own your infrastructure.
Choose Your App
Select an app to get started.
Export Your Frontend
You already know how: Base44's GitHub integration. Your React code is portable today.
Migrate to Supabase (or your own database)
Set up Supabase (open-source PostgreSQL with auth baked in). Connect your exported app's API calls. This is where you own the backend.
Deploy to Ship
Push your GitHub repo to Ship. We handle SSL, uptime monitoring, automated backups, and GDPR compliance.
Stop Paying Spiraling Bills
One flat rate. No overage surprises. Scale from 100 users to 100,000 without renegotiating.
Transparent Pricing. No Surprises.
Choose the hosting tier that fits your app. All plans include GDPR-compliant Frankfurt infrastructure, automated backups, and SSL certificates.
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Enterprise-Grade Infrastructure
You escaped Base44's vendor lock-in. You are not doing it again.
ISO 27001 Certified
Our data centers meet international information security standards. Your app runs on audited infrastructure.
GDPR Compliant by Default
Frankfurt-based servers. EU data residency. No extra compliance layers to bolt on.
99.9% Uptime SLA
Backed in writing. If we miss it, you get service credits. No excuses.
Daily Automated Backups
Your data is never one outage away from disaster. We restore, you get back to work.
Open Infrastructure
Run Supabase, n8n, Nextcloud, or any app you own. No proprietary frameworks. No lock-in.
Questions About Base44 Lock-In and Ship Hosting
Base44 lets you export your React frontend code to GitHub. That is portable. But the backend, database schema, serverless functions, and authentication system are tied to Base44's proprietary infrastructure. Moving away requires rebuilding the entire backend from scratch. This is not a limitation of Base44's UI builder — it is an architectural choice. Your frontend is the prototype; your backend is the lock.
Stop Paying for Lock-In
You built your app. You should own it. Start hosting on Ship and take back control.